Nvidia RTX 3050 vs AMD RX 6500 XT budget GPUs

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As the year 2022 elapses day by day, players and reviewers all around the internet have been looking for the best performance-over-price GPU on the market since a shortage of sorts has been predominant on the graphics card scene even to this date. As Nvidia and AMD alike launched their own entry-level offering to the PC Master Race users, the Nvidia RTX 3050 and the AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT, a battle over which is the superior model one has erupted, it is the battle of RTX 3050 vs AMD RX 6500 XT, as they both share similar release dates and MSRP. Would it be considered a fair battle if it is known who is going to win beforehand?



We must mention that It does seem surprising enough that the MSRP is so similar, when the characteristics and benchmarks on trials made on each of these cards seem to define a clear winner all around. Could it be due to the stated shortage mentioned above? Or the very well-known fact that these two companies have the GPU market on their ring finger? It might be the elephant in this article, so let’s get into the details.

The flailing underdog, the AMD RX 6500 XT

Contrary to other entries, we’re going to start off with AMD’s Radeon RX 6500 XT since this GPU is by more than just $50 dollars the underdog in this contention. Grossing at $199 US dollars, this budget card has many advantages to players who wish to upgrade their AMD rigs with an affordable yet capable GPU. On the other hand, it seems to offer a lot more cons since the specs are not even comparable in numbers nor in its performance to the Nvidia RTX 3050 according to the performance tests on A-line games and software. In this case, the RTX 3050 vs AMD RX 6500 XT is almost a horse race with one of the horses running without its rider.  

That being said, did AMD opted for this setting lineup willfully in order to appease a certain PC-user demographic? or were they really butting into a budgeted yet mid-expected card to enter and roam the neglected GPU market?

Nvidia RTX 3050 vs AMD RX 6500 XT

Whichever outcome they were aiming for, it is clear that a 4GB VRAM running at 18 Gbps on a 64-bit bus might be considered low-end for some PC users as the new normal is ever becoming the 8GB VRAM presentation on GPUs. This, together with its 20 RT cores, set this card into the mentioned underdog category, as its specs aim “platonically” higher than its real performance.

A clear winner, the Nvidia RTX 3050

Sitting at $249 MSRP, the next contender on this battle sets its first place on a high, seemingly non-budgeted, chair as some may retort given its price almost ranging the $300 dollars that is not considered affordable (therefore not capable) anymore for a budget graphics card. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 leads over AMD’s Radeon RX 6500 XT in almost all of the devices specifications barring the maximum boost clock (where the AMD has a higher frequency going on 2,8Mhz).

With such a handicap over its counterpart it might be a bit overbearing to set the RTX 3050 vs AMD RX 6500 XT when such high differences are clearly present. All given to the boosted performance tests that lead the Nvidia GPU with higher ray-tracing specs, coveted by gamers and, really, any PC user with a customized rig, shockingly as the device only holds 16 RT cores in its design.

What really sets them apart

While reviewing all of the specs in detail for both GPUs, we could see that one was obviously more well-rounded than the other. In this showdown of RTX 3050 vs AMD RX 6500 XT the prior simply showcases with better metrics. However, what we think really sets both GPUs apart is their tested performance when it comes to usage and delivery. Since there’s 4GB of difference within each card, its clear that the RTX 3050 will perform superiorly compared to the AMD RX 6500 XT.

Nvidia RTX 3050 vs AMD RX 6500 XT

Testing performed on A-line games such as Far Cry 5, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Red Dead redemption by PCmag.com sheds some light as to why we think it’s unfair to set the RTX 3050 vs AMD RX 6500 XT, as the Nvidia GPU easily handles 60fps on 1080p with little to no struggle on games like the above mentioned, while the AMD one just barely gets to the benchmark if not at all.

Final thoughts on the Nvidia RTX 3050 vs AMD RX 6500 XT comparison

All in all, proven by the facts gathered in this article, we could confidently say that the Nvidia RTX 3050 evidently takes the prize to its budget offering with this GPU as it proved more than capable of handling modern games and high-demand performance on design and 3D software. But we have yet to discard the AMD RX 6500 XT as its MSRP and overall great specs have earned it the place of strong contender (although very lacking) against the RTX 3050.

So which is it? It really depends. If you’re looking for budget-friendly but true to performance capabilities, go for the Nvidia RTX 3050. If you’re on the savings end of your bank account and still want to upgrade without compromising quality, we strongly suggest the AMD alternative. but be warned, the $50 difference is totally worth it if you can afford to shell it out. 

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